Atonal
Example: La composition atonale de ce morceau déconcerte souvent les auditeurs habituels.
Definition
"Atonal" refers to music that lacks a tonal center or key, meaning it does not follow the traditional rules of harmony and melody based on a specific scale. This style often creates a sense of dissonance and unpredictability in the composition.
Etymology
The word "atonal" comes from the prefix 'a-' meaning 'without' and the root 'tonal,' which relates to tone or key in music. It was coined in the early 20th century to describe music that does not conform to the traditional tonal system, marking a significant shift in musical composition.
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"Atonal" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 99 commonly used words.
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